Statement on dissolution of planned merger between Sanford Health, M Health Fairview

Lauren Nielsen
lauren.nielsen@mnnurses.org

Josh Keller
jkeller@seiumn.org

(Saint Paul) – July 27, 2023 – Today, M Health Fairview and South Dakota-based Sanford Health called off a merger that was announced late last year. Since the merger announcement, Minnesotans working and receiving care at the potentially impacted facilities raised concerns that the merger could increase costs and limit access to health services for patients, threaten jobs and working conditions for workers, and consolidate even more corporate control over our healthcare system.

The following are statements from leaders of the Minnesota Nurses Association, Minnesota Farmers Union and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa on the dissolution of the planned merger.

“Today, nurses are relieved at the news that the planned merger between Sanford Health and M Health Fairview will not move forward,” said Mary C. Turner, RN, President of the Minnesota Nurses Association, “Since the merger was first announced, nurses have expressed deep concerns that a merger between these two healthcare giants would lead to the loss of healthcare access across Minnesota, but especially throughout our rural communities. Additionally, this planned merger threatened the future of healthcare in our state by putting the future of the University of Minnesota, including its medical school, into question. Minnesotans have come to expect a high standard of care and nurses are relieved that we will continue to be able to provide that care and protect our profession.” 

“This news is a big win for Minnesotans who want our state to be a leader in providing world-class healthcare for families in our state. By standing up in opposition together as patients, healthcare workers and community supporters, we were able to stop this corporate consolidation that was bad for patients, bad for workers, and bad for Minnesota,” said Jamie Gulley, President of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa. “We appreciate everyone who raised their voices, whether elected officials, healthcare workers, patients, students or farmers. Now that this bad decision is behind us, we call on Fairview’s board and leaders to focus on our mission and recommit to the patients we serve.”

“I want to credit Fairview for listening to farmers, healthcare workers, and other community members and backing down from this merger,” said Gary Wertish, President of Minnesota Farmers Union. “Our members were unimpressed from the start. They already pay too much for healthcare. And what we know is that despite the promises, this type of mega merger only results in increased prices, laying off workers, closing clinics, and otherwise reducing local services. The model in healthcare and across our economy can’t be to just keep getting bigger and bigger.”